You are on page 1of 2

TSA Writing Tips - Twenty Basic Plots

IDEAS, PLOTS & USING THE PREMISE SHEETS

After you come up with your own system for generating ideas, the next step
is to put them in some recognizable story form (the basic plot idea), build
your central conflict (the story premise sheet), then build your character
and underlying themes (the thematic premise sheet.

#1 QUEST - the plot involves the Protagonist's search for a person, place
or thing, tangible or intangible (but must be quantifiable, so think of
this as a noun; i.e., immortality).

#2 ADVENTURE - this plot involves the Protagonist going in search of their


fortune, and since fortune is never found at home, the Protagonist goes to
search for it somewhere over the rainbow.

#3 PURSUIT - this plot literally involves hide-and-seek, one person chasing


another.

#4 RESCUE - this plot involves the Protagonist searching for someone or


something, usually consisting of three main characters - the Protagonist,
the Victim & the Antagonist.

#5 ESCAPE - plot involves a Protagonist confined against their will who


wants to escape (does not include some one trying to escape their personal
demons).

#6 REVENGE - retaliation by Protagonist or Antagonist against the other for


real or imagined injury.

#7 THE RIDDLE - plot involves the Protagonist's search for clues to find
the hidden meaning of something in question that is deliberately enigmatic
or ambiguous.

#8 RIVALRY - plot involves Protagonist competing for same object or goal as


another person (their rival).

#9 UNDERDOG - plot involves a Protagonist competing for an object or goal


that is at a great disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds.

#10 TEMPTATION - plot involves a Protagonist that for one reason or another
is induced or persuaded to do something that is unwise, wrong or immoral.

#11 METAMORPHOSIS - this plot involves the physical characteristics of the


Protagonist actually changing from one form to another (reflecting their
inner psychological identity).

#12 TRANSFORMATION - plot involves the process of change in the Protagonist


as they journey through a stage of life that moves them from one
significant character state to another.

#13 MATURATION - plot involves the Protagonist facing a problem that is


part of growing up, and from dealing with it, emerging into a state of
adulthood (going from innocence to experience).

#14 LOVE - plot involves the Protagonist overcoming the obstacles to love
that keeps them from consummating (engaging in) true love.

#15 FORBIDDEN LOVE - plot involves Protagonist(s) overcoming obstacles


created by social mores and taboos to consummate their relationship (and
sometimes finding it at too high a price to live with).

#16 SACRIFICE - plot involves the Protagonist taking action(s) that is


motivated by a higher purpose (concept) such as love, honor, charity or for
the sake of humanity.

#17 DISCOVERY - plot that is the most character-centered of all, involves


the Protagonist having to overcome an upheavel(s) in their life, and
thereby discovering something important (and buried) within them a better
understanding of life (i.e., better appreciation of their life, a clearer
purpose in their life, etc.)

#18 WRETCHED EXCESS - plot involves a Protagonist who, either by choice or


by accident, pushes the limits of acceptable behavior to the extreme and is
forced to deal with the consequences (generally deals with the
psychological decline of the character).

#19 ASCENSION - rags-to-riches plot deals with the rise (success) of


Protagonist due to a dominating character trait that helps them to succeed.

#20 DECISION - riches-to-rags plot deals with the fall (destruction) of


Protagonist due to dominating character trait that eventually destroys
their success.

(Note: Sometimes #19 & #20 are combined into rags-to-riches-to-rags (or
vice versa) of a Protagonist who does (or doesn't) learn to deal with their
dominating character trait.)

For an in-depth look at these plots, read the excellent "20 Master Plots
and How To Build Them" by Ronald B. Tobias available through the TSA
Writers Store.

You might also like